French Conditional Sentences - Propositions conditionnelles

The third conditional* is a conditional sentence which expresses a hypothetical situation that is contrary to past fact: something that would have happened if something else had happened.

To form the third conditional, use si + pluperfect (to explain what would have had to occur) + conditional perfect (what would have been possible).

Si j'avais eu le temps, je l'aurais fait. / Je l'aurais fait si j'avais eu le temps.
If I had had time, I would have done it. / I would have done it if I had had time.
(Fact: I didn't have time so I didn't do it.)

Si tu avais étudié, tu aurais réussi à l'examen. / Tu aurais réussi à l'examen si tu avais étudié.
If you had studied, you would have passed the test. / You would have passed the test if you had studied.
(Fact: You didn't study so you didn't pass the test.)

Si elle vous avait vu, elle vous aurait aidé. / Elle vous aurait aidé si elle vous avait vu.
If she had seen you, she would have helped you. / She would have helped you if she had seen you.
(Fact: She didn't see you so she didn't help you.)


Test on si clauses

Third conditional classroom practice


*Please note that the term "conditional" here refers to the condition being named, not the conditional mood. In the third conditional, the conditional mood is not used to name the condition itself, but rather the result.


Literary third conditional

In literary or other very formal French, both verbs in the pluperfect + conditional perfect construction are replaced by the second form of the conditional perfect.

Si j'eusse eu le temps, je l'eusse fait. / Je l'eusse fait si j'eusse eu le temps
If I had had time, I would have done it.

Si vous eussiez étudié, vous eussiez réussi à l'examen. / Vous eussiez réussi à l'examen si vous eussiez étudié.
If you had studied, you would have passed the test.

Si elle vous eût vu, elle vous eût aidé. / Elle vous eût aidé si elle vous eût vu.
If she had seen you, she would have helped you.

Previous

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Next